• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.360-377
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• 2018

The levels of 12 isoflavones were measured in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) sprouts of 68 genetic varieties from three countries (China, Japan, and Korea). The isoflavone profile differences were analyzed using data mining methods. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the CSRV021 variety was separated from the others by the first two principal components. This variety appears to be most suited for functional food production due to its high isoflavone levels. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that there are meaningful isoflavone compositional differences in samples that have different countries of origin. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) of these phytochemicals resulted in clusters derived from closely related biochemical pathways. These results indicate the usefulness of metabolite profiling combined with chemometrics as a tool for assessing the quality of foods and identifying metabolic links in biological systems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.765-774
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• 2021

Although research on the osteal signaling pathway has progressed, understanding of gut microbial-dependent signaling pathways for metabolic and immune bone homeostasis remains elusive. In recent years, the study of gut microbiota has shed light on our understanding of bone homeostasis. Here, we review microbiota-mediated gut-bone crosstalk via bone morphogenetic protein/SMADs, Wnt and OPG/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand signaling pathways in direct (translocation) and indirect (metabolite) manners. The mechanisms underlying gut microbiota involvement in these signaling pathways are relevant in immune responses, secretion of hormones, fate of osteoblasts and osteoclasts and absorption of calcium. Collectively, we propose a signaling network for maintaining a dynamic homeostasis between the skeletal system and the gut ecosystem. Additionally, the role of gut microbial improvement by dietary intervention in osteal signaling pathways has also been elucidated. This review provides unique resources from the gut microbial perspective for the discovery of new strategies for further improving treatment of bone diseases by increasing the abundance of targeted gut microbiota.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.97-109
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• 2022

Species are facing strong selection pressures to adapt to inhospitable high-altitude environments. Yaks are a valuable species and an iconic symbol of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Extensive studies of high-altitude adaptation have been conducted, but few have focused on metabolism. In the present study, we determined the differences in the serum metabolomics between yaks and the closely related species of low-altitude yellow cattle and dairy cows. We generated high-quality metabolite profiling data for 36 samples derived from the three species, and a clear separation trend was obtained between yaks and the other animals from principal component analysis. In addition, we identified a total of 63 differentially expressed metabolites among the three species. Functional analysis revealed that differentially expressed metabolites were related to the innate immune activation, oxidative stress-related metabolism, and energy metabolism in yaks, which indicates the important roles of metabolites in high-altitude adaptation in yaks. The results provide new insights into the mechanism of adaptation or acclimatization to high-altitude environments in yaks and hypoxia-related diseases in humans.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2023

The anti-melanogenic activity of 259 actinomycete strains was tested, and based on the results for the inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity and the reduction in melanin content, Micromonospora sp. JCS1 and JCS7 were selected as the strains with the highest anti-melanogenic potential. The activity-guided fractionation of extracts from JCS1 and JCS7 led to the isolation of the dipeptides cyclo(ʟ-Phenyl alanine (Phe)-ʟ-Proline (Pro)) (1) and cyclo(ʟ-Tryptophan (Trp)-ʟ-Proline (Pro)) (2). These two compounds were tested for their inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by monitoring ʟ-DOPA levels and melanin production. Cyclo(ʟ-Phe-ʟ-Pro) (1) and cyclo(ʟ-Trp-ʟ-Pro) (2) were thus confirmed to have the potential for use in functional whitening cosmetics containing actinomycete-derived secondary metabolites.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1044-1054
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• 2023

Growing evidence indicates a crucial role of the gut microbiota in physiological functions. Gut-brain axis imbalance has also been associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Studies have suggested that probiotics regulate the stress response and alleviate mood-related symptoms. In this study, we investigated the effects of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC3201 (L3201) on the behavioral response and fecal metabolite content in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mouse model. Our study shows that chronic stress in mice for three weeks resulted in significant changes in behavior, including lower locomotor activity, higher levels of anxiety, and depressive-like symptoms, compared to the control group. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that disrupted fecal metabolites associated with aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis by UCMS were restored with the administration of L3201. Oral administration of the L3201 ameliorated the observed changes and improved the behavioral alterations along with fecal metabolites, suggesting that probiotics play a neuroprotective role.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.78-89
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• 2020

Tomato fruit quality is determined by the contents of various functional metabolites in addition to fruit appearance. To develop tomato cultivars with higher amounts of functional compounds, an efficient quantification method is required to identify the natural variations in the compounds in the tomato germplasm. In this study, we investigated tomato varieties, which included 23 inbred lines and 12 commercial F₁ cultivars, for their contents of seven watersoluble vitamins (vitamin C, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B9) and five polyphenolic compounds (quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, myricetin, and naringenin chalcone). The results of high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that vitamin C and naringenin chalcone were the major water-soluble vitamins and polyphenolic compounds, respectively, and their abundance was highly variable depending on the cultivar. By contrast, the contents of vitamin B1, quercetin, and kaempferol were lowest among the cultivars. With regard to the relationship between metabolic compounds and fruit characteristics, a significant association was found in fruit size, indicating that cherry tomato varieties contain higher amounts of the compounds compared to large fresh-type varieties. However, no direct association was detected in fruit color, except for naringenin chalcone. The results of this study provide new insights on the quantification of metabolic compounds and the selection of breeding materials, which are prerequisites for the development of functional tomato varieties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.505-514
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• 2020

The symbiotic nature of the relationship between algae and marine bacteria is well-studied among the complex microbial interactions. The mutual profit between algae and bacteria occurs via nutrient and vitamin exchange. It is necessary to analyze the genome sequence of a bacterium to predict its symbiotic relationships. In this study, the genome of a marine bacterium, Pseudoruegeria sp. M32A2M, isolated from the south-eastern isles (GeoJe-Do) of South Korea, was sequenced and analyzed. A draft genome (91 scaffolds) of 5.5 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 62.4% was obtained. In total, 5,101 features were identified from gene annotation, and 4,927 genes were assigned to functional proteins. We also identified transcription core proteins, RNA polymerase subunits, and sigma factors. In addition, full flagella-related gene clusters involving the flagellar body, motor, regulator, and other accessory compartments were detected even though the genus Pseudoruegeria is known to comprise non-motile bacteria. Examination of annotated KEGG pathways revealed that Pseudoruegeria sp. M32A2M has the metabolic pathways for all seven vitamin Bs, including thiamin (vitamin B1), biotin (vitamin B7), and cobalamin (vitamin B12), which are necessary for symbiosis with vitamin B auxotroph algae. We also identified gene clusters for seven secondary metabolites including ectoine, homoserine lactone, beta-lactone, terpene, lasso peptide, bacteriocin, and non-ribosomal proteins.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2014

Rubus coreanus has been used as a traditional medicine in Asia because of its various pharmacological properties. This study examined the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA), one of phenolic compounds derived from R. coreanus on the lipid metabolism in high cholesterol diet-induced mice. A total of 30 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups with 6 mice in each group as follows: (1) Control mice received normal diet (ND). (2) Mice received high-cholesterol diet (HCD) plus water, 10% sucrose solution and treated daily oral phosphate-buffered-saline (PBS) of equal volumes through gavage. (3) Mice received HCD and treated daily with 25 mg/kg b.w./day of PCA (4) with 50 mg/kg b.w./day or (5) with 10 mg/kg b.w./day of simvastatin via oral gavage for 12 weeks. Body weights were measured weekly for a period of experiment. After treatment, liver, thymus, spleen and kidney were harvested and weighed, and the lipid metabolite profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and liver-damaging markers (GOT and GPT) in serum were examined. PCA significantly reduced the total cholesterol, TG, LDL-c level and increased the HDL-c level. PCA administration also significantly reduced the levels of GOT and GPT. These results indicate that the PCA could be used as a functional material for lowering lipid and an adjuvant for the treatment of hyperlipemia.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.164-170
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• 2005

In the present study, we investigated the mineral and metabolite composition and antioxidant activities in the flower, stem and root of Aster ciliosus Kitamura in order to detect biologically active substances and develop novel functional resources. The mineral and metabolite compositions differ significantly among the organ of Aster ciliosus Kitamura. The flower is composed of K as 827 mg/100g. while the stem and root are composed of Na as 654.64mg/100g and 771.70mg/100g, respectively. Contents of unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid, were higher than those of saturated fatty acid, such as palmitic acid in flower. The contests of phenolic compounds were measured at 285 nm using different solvents: 2.53 and 2.03 optical density (OD) in chloroform and 1.864 and 1.715 in ethanol extracts for the stem and root, respectively. Antioxidant activity was measured in 75% ethanol extracts: 41.3, 42.0 and $45.2\;{\mu}g/ml$ in stem, root and flower at $IC_{50}$ value, respectively. These results suggest that extracts from Aster ciliosus Kitamura can be potentially used as novel resources for antioxidant and biological active substances.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of this study was aimed to evaluate the BOLD(blood oxygen level dependent) contrast fMRI(functional MR imaging) in the occipital lobe and to compare with the metabolic changes based on H MRS (MR spectroscopy) and MRSI (MR spectroscopic imaging) before and after visual stimulation Materials and Methods : Healthy human volunteers (eight males and two females with 24-30 year age) participated in this study. All of the BOLD fMRI were acquired on a 1.5T MR with EPI during supervised visual stimulation in the occipital lobe. The red flicker with 8Hz was used for visual stimulation. After imaging acquisition, the MR images were transferred into unix workstation and processed with acquired from the same location based on the activation map. MRSI (magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging) was also acquired to analyze the lactate changes before and after stimulation. Results : The activation maps were successfully produced by BOLD effect due to visual stimulation. NAA (N-acetyle aspartate)/Cr (creatine) ratio varied only from $1.79{\pm}0.28{\;}to{\;}1.88{\pm}0.20$ in activation area before and after stimulation. However, the signal intensity of lactate was elevated $9.48{\pm}4.38$ times higher than before activation. Lactate metabolite images were consistent with the activation maps. Conclusion : The BOLD contrast fMRI is enough sensitive to detect the activated area in human brain during the visual stimulation. Lactate metabolite map presents the evidence of lactate elevation on the same area of activation.